My photo disappeared - just a white circle with Black Exclamation Point

I used a photo as the backdrop for a DVDSProject - now I went back to the project in DVDSPro and it sez the file is missing from my assets. So I check the media and try to drag it back into DVDSPro and nope won't go. That leads me to go back into iPhoto and when I double click on the thumbnail i get the icky-image of the exclamation point. What does that mean, besides I can't get my work done?


Old Toad address this often - I didn't see a recent reference but search his answers and you will find the directions to re-associate your thumbnails with your photos


And a 2nd question - Is there no way to Import from iPhoto anymore? Only drag to bring in a photo? I'm really missing something here.


this question is ask about every 10 questions -- for a complete discussion see TD's answer - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1126400&tstart=15

Larry Nebel

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Where are you getting the white circle and the "!" ? If it's in iPhoto then read on.

The dreaded "!" indicates that the link between the thumbnail and the full file has been broken. Sometimes a rebuilding of the library can restore them. Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select the first three options.

If the rebuild doesn't resurrect the library you're looking at having to start with a fresh library and importing the Originals folder from the old one. Here's how:

Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.

1. Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
   
2. Open the library package like this.
   
3. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
   
4. Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.

This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.

You will have the same events as you did in the first library. I don't know what you used to send photos to the DVDSP project but if you used events then when you open DVDSP and it asks you to find the photo you should be able to go to the event in the new library and re-link. I've only had to re-link with iDVD so don't know if it will be the same.

To recover from that problem in the future see the tip at the end of my signature.

Do you Twango?

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.